Ferry to Sicily
Valletta - Pozzallo
From Malta to Sicily in 1:45 hours: from the Virtu terminal in the Grand Harbour to Pozzallo, with a vehicle deck and same-day return
- Several times daily with Virtu Ferries, year-round, with extra sailings morning and evening
- 1 hour 45 minutes on the fast catamarans Saint John Paul II and Jean de la Valette
- Check-in at the Marsa terminal 60 minutes ahead on foot, 90 minutes with a vehicle
What you should know about the crossing
Table of Contents
Getting there & terminal
The ferry doesn't depart from Valletta's old town but from the Virtu Ferries Passenger Terminal in Marsa, at the inner end of the Grand Harbour, on Xatt l-Għassara tal-Għeneb. The operator has run this terminal with its own quay since 2010, with parking nearby. It's a few kilometres from the centre of Valletta by taxi or bus.
In Pozzallo the berth is in the port at the southern edge of the town; Virtu Ferries' booking office is at Largo dei Vespri Siciliani 70. From Pozzallo it's 62 kilometres to Syracuse, 112 to Catania and 160 to Palermo.
Check-in & departure
On foot, you're at the terminal one hour before departure; check-in opens two hours before departure and closes 30 minutes before. With a vehicle, you're at the terminal 90 minutes before departure; loading order into the garage is set by the crew for safety and logistics, not by arrival order. In peak season the operator recommends more lead time.
Only an ID card or passport counts as a travel document. At booking you need each person's name, date of birth, ID number, nationality and mobile number, and for a vehicle its make, model and number plate. Club Class guests have their own check-in counter and a priority lane for cars.
On board
Virtu deploys the catamarans Saint John Paul II (900 passengers, 167 cars) and Jean de la Valette (800 passengers, 156 cars). There are two classes: Euro Class with seats in the salon, and Club Class on the bridge deck with reclining seats, an outdoor area and priority disembarkation. On board: a bar, shop, Starlink Wi-Fi, and ramps and a lift for passengers with reduced mobility. No one may stay in the garage during the crossing.
Luggage: as a foot passenger, you can bring up to three items of luggage (max. 50 × 40 × 80 cm), stored in a trolley or storage area, plus one item of hand luggage up to five kilos at your seat. In the car, luggage is unlimited, sports equipment included.
Vehicle, bike & pets
Cars up to five metres long, campers up to seven metres, motorbikes, bicycles and e-bikes travel on board; caravans pay the light-vehicle rate, and bicycles travel free but must be included in the booking. Dimensions and gas cylinders: Motorhome on the ferry.
For dogs and cats, Virtu offers four options: the climate-controlled pet cabin on the garage deck with the operator's own carriers (surcharge, booking compulsory), your own car with windows open (up to three animals free), your own carrier on the outside deck, or a small animal in a carrier in the salon next to your seat. A lead and muzzle are required when moving through passenger areas. An EU pet passport and vaccination records are compulsory; contact the Maltese veterinary authority before travelling. Documents: Taking your dog on the ferry.
Arrival & onward travel
Pozzallo lies at Sicily's southeastern tip. By car you're in Syracuse within an hour, in a good hour and a half in Catania. Travelling without a car, you can book the operator's summer coach transfer to Catania in summer; this route has its own page: Valletta - Catania.
Tickets & fares
Booking is done through the booking window above; the from-price comes live from the operator's data, with port fees and the ETS surcharge added to the fare. For day trips there's the cheaper same-day return, with returns from the following day onwards booked as a standard return. Groups of up to 20 people can book online.
The terms are generous: Virtu refunds passenger tickets in full if you cancel up to 24 hours before departure, there's no no-show penalty on passenger tickets, and name changes and date changes within the same fare tier are free. Special offers have their own rules.
Valletta - Pozzallo
From Malta to Sicily in 1:45 hours
There are 50 nautical miles between Malta and Sicily, and Virtu Ferries takes 1 hour 45 minutes: the fast catamarans sail several times daily from the operator's own terminal in Marsa in the Grand Harbour to Pozzallo, at Sicily's southeastern tip, all year round, with a vehicle deck.
Early departures from Malta and late ones back make a same-day return possible; anyone continuing to Catania or Syracuse has the whole day by car or bus. Book early with a vehicle, as the catamarans fill up fast.
- Crossing
- approx. 1 hr 45 min.
- Operator
- Virtu Ferries
- Frequency
- several times daily
- From-price
- €67
Next departures
FAQ Valletta - Pozzallo
Frequently asked questions
Questions and answers about the Malta-Pozzallo ferry route
How long does the ferry from Malta to Pozzallo take?+
1 hour 45 minutes for 50 nautical miles. Virtu Ferries sails several times daily, with the early departures from Malta and the late ones from Pozzallo designed for day trips. The times for your travel day are in the timetable.
When do I need to be at the terminal?+
On foot, one hour before departure; check-in opens two hours before and closes 30 minutes before departure. With a vehicle, be at the terminal 90 minutes before. In peak season the operator recommends even more lead time.
What documents do I need?+
Only an ID card or passport counts as a travel document; a driving licence or residence card doesn't. For children under 18 with a Maltese ID and under 14 with an Italian document, the operator requires a signed authorisation if not travelling with both parents. At booking you need each person's name, date of birth, ID number and mobile number.
How much does the Malta - Pozzallo ferry cost?+
The price depends on season, class (Euro or Club Class) and vehicle, plus port fees and the ETS surcharge. The displayed from-price comes live from the operator's data, and the price overview gives an idea.
Can I bring my car or motorhome?+
Yes. Virtu takes cars up to five metres, campers up to seven metres, motorbikes and bicycles; caravans pay the car rate. At booking you give the make, model and number plate. Luggage in the car is unlimited. Dimensions and gas cylinders: Motorhome on the ferry.
Can my dog come on board?+
Yes, with registration at booking and an EU pet passport. Four options: the climate-controlled pet cabin on the garage deck (surcharge, book ahead), your own car with windows open (up to three animals free), a carrier on the outside deck, or a small animal in a carrier in the salon. Documents: Taking your dog on the ferry.
What happens if I can't travel?+
Virtu refunds passenger tickets in full if you give notice up to 24 hours before departure; there's no no-show penalty on passenger tickets, name changes are free, and the travel date can be moved within the same fare tier at no charge, subject to availability.